Breakfast of Champions

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Prison Blogger

As reported by sportsbybrooks.com, Maurice Clarett is blogging from prison. I thought this was a joke until I read the post. Then I realized it really is a joke. If you have forgotten, Clarett was a star running back for The Ohio State University, leading them to the National Title back in 2002.

The blog is kinda out there. I think he is trying to make a turn for the better. He's reaching with some points, but I'll let you be the judge. Here is what Maurice has to say in a recent post:

I don’t have a lot of words to say today because words can’t express what I’m feeling today. I’m optimistic and I am fortunate. Those two words do not exactly describe my innate feeling but they were the best I could come up with. I looked through a thesaurus to see if it could help and to my surprise, there was nothing. I’m fortunate to be LIVING. I don’t have the exact science of learning to appreciate the now but if you’re out and you see a book, whose title describes in essence what I am describing, pick it up and apply what you read.

Wow, what did he just say?

Kings, tyrants, masters, and plutocrats, hold their positions of power because people have come to habitually accept them. Start a habit of being great and watch what the Man above delivers to you. Make someone accept your humane and great habits. Life is what we create. Get from under someone else’s habitual rule if you don’t like how you’re living. If you allow it, you deserve it. Reevaluate your personal habits and you’ll see why things are the way they are. If things are not the way you imagined, blame no one but yourself and change your habits. Humility is the motherhood of change.

He has to much time on his hands! Bad jail joke. In this next part he talks about mentoring some other inmate. Are you serious?

I made it a mission of mine to set time aside for him. When I spoke a few sentences to him, you could see his eyes light up. It’s as if his spirit was awakened just from me showing some type of concern about his personal issues. He spilled out all of his life experiences to me. The essence of all of his tales was that he didn’t know how to logically manage his life. His emotions dominated his decision making and he was in need of a little assistance when it comes to managing his life. I offered up a few words and suggested some books to read. He agreed to read them for the sake of us building a bond. I am interested in seeing how he comprehends certain information. From my personal assessment, I’ll then be able to see at what pace I can bring him along. I want to help him raise his level of consciousness for the sake of him giving life some type of value.

Nice job Maurice.

Dawkins Moving Along

Report: In an unexpected move, safety Brian Dawkins signed an undisclosed deal with the Denver Broncos during Friday's free agent blitz. I'm sure die hard Eagle fans are at the bar right this minute drowning their sorrows in Jack Daniels and Yaggermeister. Dawkins was the cornerstone of the Phili D, and a core piece of the organization. His departure will certainly shake things up in the Eagle secondary. In a related story, corner Lito Shepard may be on his way to the NY Jets. If Philadelphia is making all these moves, I hope Jim Johnson has a new plan for the defense.

"Wolverine", as he was often referred to, spent 13 seasons as an Eagle playing in 183 games. He recorded 21 sacks and 34 interceptions during his career there. His benefit to the Eagles was far greater than the #'s will ever reflect. He was a leader, motivator, and a class act. It will be strange to see him in another uniform, but that is the case with so many guys this year.

Adamek Impressive in Cruiserweight Win

Thomas Adamek is know a stellar 37-1 after an 8th round technical knockout over Johnathon Banks Friday night. The fight aired on Show Box. Adamek entered the bout as the ring magazine/IBF cruiserweight champion. The fight saw both competitors fight hard, but a short, straight, right hand turned the tide for Adamek in the eighth round. Prior to the TKO, Adamek dictated the tempo of the fight, shooting jabs, and using effective combination punching.

Adamek appears to be the best fighter in his division. I am a fan of his style and grit as a fighter. I don't see a lot of big fights for him in the future unless he can attract some light heavyweights to move up to face him. He is in a division that doesn't attract much attention, so unless he drops down in weight to challenge the light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson, big money will be hard to attract.

MJ Speaking on Johnny"Red" Kerr

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of Johnny "Red" Kerr, and Norm Van Lier. The two gentleman represented the Bulls and the game of basketball the right way, and will be sorely missed.

This clip is of Michael Jordan speaking about Red Kerr just a few weeks ago at a ceremony honoring the Bulls legend.

Commander & Chief

If the President is going to attend the games, and sit in regular seats with the people, I require him, I need him to get prices lowered at the snack counter. The cost of beer and refreshments is outrageous. It's breaking the bank to get two or three beers and a brat. Let's propose the No Beer, No Brat Left Behind Act. It will guarantee that fans who want a cold beer and a brat can can get one!

Or not!

Goalie Shaq

Soccer is Cool After All!

I never realized that soccer could be so revealing. Forgive me as I wipe the drool away! This is a great pic of some ladies from Argentina.

Just Take the Money Manny

Manny Ramirez may be a future Hall of Famer, but his contract situation with the Dodgers is past old, it's sickening. If any other team had interest in him, they would have made an offer bigger and better than what the Dodgers have. Obviously, you aren't a big deal. The former Red Sox outfielder on Thursday declined L.A.'s fourth offer to keep in tinsel town. The $25 million is a boat load of money for one season and L.A. is even giving him a second year option for $20 million. Nobody even cares that he doesn't really play defense either! They just want his bat and all that hair. Dude just seems greedy to me. If I were an owner or GM I wouldn't want him in my locker room or clubhouse, talent or not.

Lucky 7: PG's

This post will feature the Lucky 7 point guards. If you aren't familiar with the Lucky 7 it's very simple. This is the list of the best players at the position in the history of the game. The current focus is on the NBA. The criteria by which the players are judged was provided on the Lucky 7 initial post.

1. Magic Johnson The leader of the "Showtime Lakers", Magic is the best pg of all time. A champion five times during the 80's, Magic transcended the point guard position forever. A combination of size, speed, and grace made him the most unique player to ever play the game. Magic was a 12x all-star, 3x time NBA MVP, and a 3x NBA finals MVP. He was also the starting point guard for the historic gold medal winning "Dream Team".

2. John Stockton The NBA's all time leader in assists (15,806) and steals (3,265), John Stockton was the king of pick & role basketball. Stockton was also one of the most durable players in league history, missing only 22 games in a 19 year career. He holds the NBA record for most seasons and consecutive games played with one team as well. Number 12 was a 10x all-star and a two time Olympic gold medalist.

3. Isiah Thomas Zeke was one of the competitive players of all time. He was also one of the smoothest ball handlers to ever pick up a basketball. Isiah Thomas led the Detroit Pistons during the 1980's to back-to-back titles, and is the Pistons all time leader in points, assists, steals, and games played. Thomas was also a 12x all-star selection.

4. Bob Cousy Cousy, by many accounts was the first "great" point guard in league history. His fast paced style and unique ball handling, combined with a keen eye for passing made him truly one of a kind. The "Houdini of the Hardwood" as he was referred to is also a 6x NBA champion, the most for any pg. The Cooz won the NBA assist title eight out of the first 11 years of its existence, and was a 12x all-star.

5. Jason Kidd J-Kidd defines the point guard position. If you look up PG in the dictionary, the dome of Jason Kidd would be there. Kidd is consummate motion, probing defenses for openings and pushing the ball down opponents throats. He is currently fourth on the all time dimes list. J-Kidd has has only weak point in his game, that being his three point shooting. Despite that drawback, he is a triple double machine ranking third on the all time list with 101. J-Kidd is a two time Olympic gold medalist and a 9x NBA all-star.

6. Tiny Archibald Maybe the fastest point guard with the ball in his hands ever. Nate "Tiny" Archibald was known for his blazing speed and quickness. A playground legend in New York, Tiny played for 13 years in the NBA. In 1973 Archibald led the NBA in scoring and assists, becoming the first and so far only player ever to win the titles in both categories in the same season. Archibald was a 6x all-star.

7. Lenny Wilkens Wilkens, who of course is the NBA's all time leader in wins & loses as a coach, was an excellent point guard. He was a 9x all-star, and at the time of his retirement as a player, was number two in assists to only the great Oscar Robertson. He is currently 11th with 7,211 career helpers.

That's the Lucky 7 pg's. Keep checking back as the Lucky 7 continues.

His City

Since Chauncey Billups returned home to Denver things have been oh, so sweet! The Nuggets have been one of the best teams in the NBA. They boasts the leagues 6th best mark at 38-20 and are 17-8 since January 1st. The record they have is hugely in part to the experience and leadership that Billups has brought to the team. Through 53 games with Denver, Billups is averaging 18.3 ppg and 6.1 apg, while playing 35 minutes per night.

What Denver needed most was someone to facilitate the offense and work with Carmello Anthony. They needed someone to play off of their young superstar, but help him grow as a player. What they got from Detroit was a great pg who has turned around a franchise that last season had no identity. At this time last season, the Nuggets were scratching and crawling at the bottom of the western conference. Ok, Mello and AI were at the top of the scoring list. Who cares! They still lost. Since the Billups acquisition the team has gained a greater understanding of accountability. I haven't checked the turnover stat, but I'm sure it's down from a season ago. The bad shots, not as many. He just makes people better. Chauncey is such a wonderful floor general that he makes the job for Coach George Karl easier as well.

Denver has a chance to make a run into the second round of the playoffs this year if they can stay healthy, maybe further if Nene becomes the player we've been waiting for him to be. All thanks to Joe Dumars.

House Arrest is Next Step

Dog Owners Beware:

Reports say that Michael Vick will complete his sentence on house arrest. Vick, who is scheduled for release in July, may be at home as early as May 21st. The former Atlanta Falcons star won't be attending that half-way house after all. According to a published report, there isn't any room for Vick at the half-way house, so he will be permitted to finish out his 23 month sentence at home.

At this point no NFL team has jumped on the Vick bandwagon, and I don't expect that to happen until he is released and has an opportunity to show the public that he has "changed".

Spurs Roll On

The San Antonio Spurs always get rolling post All-Star Break. This season appears to be no different. Despite the great Tim Duncan missing the last two games with knee soreness, and Manu Ginobli being out since Feb. 11 with a bad ankle, the Spurs have a four game win streak going.

Tony Parker has been fantastic over the last two games dropping 37 and 39 on consecutive nights to go along with 21 total assists. TP has been taking over games early with his superior speed and quickness. He dropped 18 off in the first quarter Tuesday against Dallas. The Spurs are in possession of the leagues 5th best record, and have a two game lead on the 2nd overall seed in the West.

The one thing that sticks out about this season is that Coach Pop and the organization didn't make any moves before the trade deadline. In so many of the successful San Antonio seasons the have been able to find that little piece to the puzzle. A player who puts them over the top. The core of the group is still solid, and with the emergence of Roger Mason and Matt Boner as solid role players maybe the feeling was to do nothing. A player to note is rookie pg George Hill, who does a nice job spelling Tony Parker.

Over the next two months the schedule looks favorable. The Spurs will face 11 teams that are currently below .500. In March, more than half the games will be at home, where they have a record of 21-7. If Duncan and Ginobli can come back healthy, and team can get some chemistry going down the stretch, watch out for the Spurs. I like them to be in the Western Conference Final with a serious chance of getting to the Finals.

Layup Line for Thunder

If you have ever played organized basketball you have heard of or practiced a version of the "daily dozen". It's an exercise in which players must make six layups on each side of the basket — an overhand, underhand, reverse left hand, reverse right hand, baby hook shots and a pull-up jumper inside the key.The Oklahoman(Darnell Marbury) reports: The Oklahoma City Thunder, under Head Coach Scott Brooks believe the team needs to focus on making the shots up close. “We definitely need to improve on shots right around the basket,” Brooks said. “We’re going to try to get it in three or four times a week.”

That is pathetic and speaks volumes about the teams 13-44 record. I can't stop laughing.

Homecourt Advantage

Top 5 places to play in college basketball(atmosphere, crowd, excitement, etc..)

1. Duke

2. Kansas

3. Florida

4. New Mexico

5. Michigan State

The Pistons aren't Firing on All Cylinders

The Detroit Pistons just don't scare anyone anymore. For the first time in years, Joe Dumars and his squad have a losing record at 27-28. Yes, it's just one game below .500, but look at what has happened to them. The team has lost seven straight games, and have only won twice this month. The loses on the road happen, but the Pistons are losing critical home games.

I personally think this began well before Allen Iverson got to town. When Big Ben jumped ship to Chicago some years back, the pieces began to unravel. Of course the team still made it to the Eastern Conference Championship , but the little defensive cracks started to show up. Rasheed Wallace came to Detroit as the piece that put them over the top. He was the x factor that complimented Ben in the paint. The coaching moves haven't translated into championship success either. Under Flip Saunders, the team picked up its offensive production, but the defense suffered. Sending "Mr. Big Shot" to Denver was the worst move Joe Dumars has made since he has been in the front office. The team doesn't have chemistry on either end of the floor, and I don't think the locker room respects Coach Curry.

It's easy to place the blame on Iverson, but it really isn't his fault. Any GM that brings AI in already understands the type of player they are getting. The guy has always been a starter, and a true warrior. Detroit better find some answers ASAP or they may find themselves on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. Keep in mind that only 3.5 to 4 games separates the 7th seed from the 11th seed in the Eastern Conference.

Home town Bias

I feel slighted that Missouri, namely St. Louis wasn't a part of ESPN's Mount Rushmore of sports contest. Ok, so we have a bit of a crime problem here, but we are one of the top sports towns in the country hands down.

This is how it works. I am going to list athletes that either played in, or are from the St. Louis (E. St. Louis) area. If I miss individuals that you believe should be listed let me know so they can be considered. I will narrow down the list over the next few weeks, until we the people of St. Louis have our Mount Rushmore of Sports.

These are the opening selections:

Stan Musial, Kellen Winslow, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Albert Pujols, Ozzie Smith, Yogi Berra, Lou Brock, Jimmy Connors, Jack Buck, Jo Jo White, Archie Moore, Kurt Warner, Brett Hull, Dan Dierdorf, Wayne Gretzky, Rusty Wallace, Bob Gibson, Don Chaney, Moses Malone, Lenny Wilkens, Bob Petit, Leon Spinks, Michael Spinks, Lee Smith

Mr. Brooks

The following players are being released by the Tampa Bay Bucs:

Derrick Brooks

Warrick Dunn

Joey Galloway

Cato June

Ike Hilliard

There are some teams that should be interested in these guys. They may not be young, but veteran experience can go a long way in the right locker room. Mr. Brooks had a fine career in Tampa, and should be a 1st ballot Hall of Famer.

#1 is Bad luck in Mens College Basketball

Getting to the top of the rankings doesn't seem wise this season in college hoops. Last night marked the sixth time this season that the #1 team fell from the mountain top. Carolina was ranked at the top the longest, while Pitt has been there twice. Wake Forest and Duke have had their share of struggles since holding the spot as well. Before this past weekend I expected Oklahoma to be next in line, but they just can't win without Sophomore. stud Blake Griffin.

The last few years the word parity has become popular to describe Division 1 ball. This season that still holds true, but teams don't seem capable of making great plays. I'm talking about the moments when you have a team down five, with 2:00 minutes left to play, and you don't make plays to win. Every team in America needs to look for those moments as the prepare for March Madness and the run to The Final Four. The National Champion this season could be anyone currently ranked in the top 15.

The Candy: v2

Vanessa Veasley is right!

Cool Kicks

A pair of Air Jordan 9 Fusion's. These are scheduled to hit stores this summer. I love these in White & Red.

Chess Anyone?

Have you ever wanted to take a trip to San Francisco, New York, or Chicago? Well if so, don't book that flight just yet. Designer, Steve Vigar has created a new chess set that features the skylines of those famous cities. With cities and skylines at stake, the chess fanatics will have a real feel of invading or conquering a city. So forget that flight or family road trip, and pick up a new hobby. The cost is a whopping $2,100.

Tiger Returns

Tiger Woods will make his season debut today, at the Accenture Match Play Championship. His return comes after an eight month layoff following knee surgery. Like other top stars across the sports landscape who come back from injury, Tiger's return is much anticipated. Nobody draws crowds like Tiger, and I don't expect that to change for some time to come. When Woods is at his best, the rest of the field has no chance. But whats become apparent is that even if the man is physically limited, (check U.S. Open 2008) other golfers still have to bring their A-game just to compete. Golf needs Tiger, like I need another stimulus check!

Jail time for Sir Charles

Beginning March 21'st the Chuckster will be spending time behind bars! It is reported that Barkley will do five-to-ten days in an Arizona jail for his DUI arrest. Is Chuck really gonna learn anything? I doubt it. Like all the stars who get caught, its not the act that they are sorry for, its the fact that they got caught doing the act. Still gotta luv the round mound of rebound though. He said himself he is no role model. He sure wasn't lying.

Jail might be good for Charles for a couple of days. These are a few positives:

1. Vegas bookies get a few nights off!

2. It will give Kenny and Ernie another excuse to bring Gary Peyton back on Inside the NBA.

3. Inmates will have the chance to meet their favorite Michael Jordan victim!

Marbury says Goodbye NYC

I remember when all Stephon Marbury wanted to do was go home. He just wanted to be a NYC point guard, playing in NYC. As a young pg in Minnesota, playing alongside Kevin Garnett wasn't good enough. The spotlight just didn't shine bright enough on him. That Slam cover with him and Garnett is still sweet! I recall a commentator remarking that Marbury said it was "too cold" in Minnesota for him. That time he spent in New Jersey and Phoenix wasn't something to write home about either. Jason Kidd was better in those places by far. That's another story all together.

The NYC experiment ended up being hell for Steph. He hasn't played a game in forever, he's been criticized mercilessly by the media, and he got that damn starbury tattoo on his head. After missing more than half this season, Marbury and the Knicks reached terms on a buyout agreement Tuesday.

Stephon Marbury is being given another chance to prove the people wrong. He is being given an opportunity to dispel the myth that he is a cancer and a poor teammate. If the Boston Celtics decide, or any team decides to take a chance on him, this time it's all on Steph to show that he has grown up.

Join Factoids Following!

I just want to thank all those who have chosen to stop by the blog. There is a link, called FOLLOW MT BLOG posted at the TOP RIGHT of the blog page you view. If you can click there to join the FOLLOWING it would be greatly appreciated. Your readership is critical to the development of this site and one's to come.

Thank You

Eye Candy Off the Market

Ok, if you don't follow the players that sit the bench in the NBA, then you may not know who Marko Jaric is. Jaric is a G for the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves. The point is he just stole one of the best looking women in the world from the rest of us guys. This is his new bride, Adriana Lima, a sizzling hot 27 year old Brazilian Victoria Secret model. The couple eloped during a private ceremony and hope to have a larger wedding sometime this summer. They eloped in Wyoming of all places.

Brittney has Up's Baby

Some girls just have it naturally. Brittney Griner, a 6 ft. 8 inch high school girls basketball player is one who fits the bill. She currently attends Nimitz High School in Houston, Texas and has become a legend for her ability to dunk at will. Brittney has committed to attend Baylor University in 2009-2010. Check her out here as she dunks with ease in warm-ups and then slams one down hard in an actual game!

Say it Ain't so Marvin

I never thought that Marvin Harrison would ask for a release from the Colts. As of this post, its not official, but it could happen as soon as Monday. His career is the Colts! He and Peyton are the most productive tag team of all time. It's gonna be like having that great hot dog, but no cold beer to wash it down with in Indy. Maybe not though, I forgot they moved on to Reggie Wayne like three seasons ago. I don't believe any other receiver in history benefited more from his quarterback, and a "system" than Harrison. I'm not saying that he didn't have skills and a work ethic to match, but what I am saying is this. If MH played for another franchise he wouldn't be #2 in receptions, nor would he be #5 in all time TD's.

He was always fun to watch as a Colt. Harrison made some fantastic catches, and was a fixture at the Pro Bowl, an event he was featured in 8 consecutive years(99-06).

A Biting Good Time

Breidis Prescott vs. Humberto Toledo




Humberto Toledo decided to take a bite out of his competition during the 10th and final round of his lightweight bout in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Watch as his opponent, Breidis Prescott shrieks in pain. The fight aired on ESPN Friday Night Fights(2/20/09).

Nate Robinson Shines on Letterman!

Nate has personality and crazy ups!

All Time Best Intro

Mr. Factoid is going to present a regular piece entitled The Lucky 7. The Lucky 7 is going to be a list of the best seven players in history at any given position throughout professional sports. I don't always agree with player rankings and lists, so I figured I will put together my own, hell the "experts" do!

My evaluations will be based on the players overall impact on the game and the legacy they established.

Criteria will include: statistics, championships, Olympic experience, all-star experience, and their peers evaluation.

Lets begin with the 1st installment of The Lucky 7, which will feature the top seven NBA Centers of all time.

1. 
   

• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar So what that he played 20 seasons! He wasn't the most physical, nor did he jump the highest, but Kareem used a high basketball IQ, wonderful work ethic, and an unstoppable sky hook to become the NBA's all time leading scorer(38,387 pts.) and in my opinion its best big man of all time. The sky hook is a shot that I wish some young players today would attempt to master. It can't be stopped! Kareem was adapt at shooting the shot with either hand which made him even more effective(55.6 % fg career).




• Kareem doesn't have gaudy career averages, but his body of work demonstrated a level of consistency that is unparalleled. He was rarely injured during his 20 year career. The only injuries I found were two separate hand problems. His 24.6 ppg is third all time among centers, and the 11.6 rpg ranks 8th. Kareem was an excellent shot blocker, tallying 3,189 for his career, and a fine passer with over 5,600 career assists(1st among Centers).




• The man was a 19x NBA All-Star, a 6x NBA MVP, a 6x NBA champion, and a 2x NBA Finals MVP.
  

2.

• Wilt Chamberlain The most dominant big man of his era, and arguably all time, Wilt "The Stilt" Chamberlain ruled the paint like no other. Wilt entered the league during its 1959-60 season and was an instant sensation. His first pro game ended with him recording 43 points and 28 rebounds vs the Knicks. His rookie campaign saw him average 37.6 points and 27 rebounds. Wilt became the first player to win Rookie of the Year and NBA MVP in the same season.




• Chamberlain holds numerous official NBA all-time records, setting records in many scoring, rebounding and durability categories. Among others, he is the only player in NBA history to average more than 40 and 50 points in a season or score 100 points in a single NBA game. He also won seven scoring, nine field goal percentage, and eleven rebounding titles, and once even led the league in assists.




• Chamberlain had a successful career, winning two NBA titles, earning four regular-season Most Valuable Player awards, one NBA Finals MVP award, and being selected to 13 All-Star Games and ten All-NBA First and Second teams. Chamberlain was subsequently enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1978, elected into the NBA's 35th Anniversary Team of 1980, and chosen as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History of 1996.




• Celtic great Bill Russell has been quoted as saying that Wilt was the best big man of all time.




• In my opinion, he is second best only because of the Championship wins. He was by far the best offensive post threat to ever play the game. His poor free throw shooting didn't help much either in my evaluation.




• I can't lie. The myth about him sleeping with 20,000 women could really move him to #1, but I need female readership!

3.

• Shaquille O'Neal The Diesel requires no real introduction. Shaquille O'Neal is one of the most recognizable characters in the world. A star not only on the court, but also a figure in the entertainment industry, Shaquille has released numerous rap albums and starred in multiple motion pictures.
  



• His early career with the Orlando Magic saw him dominate the paint with ferocious dunks, some of which actually brought the basket and its support to the ground. He was named Rookie of the year in 1993, and led the league in scoring (94-95) his third season(2x scoring champion). The summer of 1995 O'Neal was named to the United States Olympic basketball team, and was part of the gold medal-winning team at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.



• The Big Aristotle is a 4x NBA champion, 3x NBA Finals MVP, and a 15x All-Star. Shaq is currently in his 16 professional season and has a career scoring average of 24.9 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 2.3 bpg, while shooting a terrific 58.1% from the field. His free throw shooting, like Chamberlain, left much to be desired. Career is 52.7%.
  



• The brute size and strength of O'Neal caused changes in NBA officiating over the years. It became evident that fouls for Shaq were different than for other, smaller players.

4.

• Bill Russell Widely considered to be one of the top defensive players of all time, Bill Russell comes in at # 4 on our list. The 11x NBA Champion was the anchor for the Boston Celtic dynasty during the 1950's and 60's.

• Russell ranks second in rpg(22.45), a ridiculous amount. He led the NBA in rebounds four times. He is one of just two NBA players (the other being prominent rival Wilt Chamberlain) to have grabbed more than fifty rebounds in a game. Though never the focal point of the Celtics' offense, Russell also scored 14,522 career points and provided effective passing.

• Russell was the first African American player to achieve superstar status in the NBA. Mr. Russell was a 12x All-Star, 5x NBA MVP, and once won the NBA All-Star game MVP. Along with Henri Richard of the National Hockey League's Montreal Canadiens, Russell holds the record for the most championships won by an athlete in a North American sports league.

5.

• Hakeem Olajuwon The "Dream" may have had the best footwork I've ever seen for a true center. During his youth, Olajuwon was a soccer goalkeeper and handball player, which helped give him the footwork and agility to balance his size and strength in basketball, and also – according to himself – contributed to his shot-blocking ability. Olajuwon did not play basketball until the age of 15, when he entered a local tournament. However, he quickly became taken with the game. Olajuwon states, "Basketball is something that is so unique. That immediately I pick up the game and you know realize that this is the sport for me. All the other sports just become secondary."

• Olajuwon is a 2x NBA Champion, both with the Houston Rockets during the mid 90's. During the championship run, Olajuwon was at the pinnacle of his career. In 1994, he became the only player in NBA history to win MVP, Finals MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards in the same season. In so doing he became the first foreign-born player to win the league's MVP award. He ended his career the league's all-time leader in blocked shots. Olajuwon is also the only NBA player ever to end his career in Top 10 for blocks (1st all-time) and steals (7th all-time).

• Hakeem was a great player on both ends of the floor year in, and year out. His wide array of offensive moves made him at times unguardable. He was a prolific scorer, averaging 21.8 points in his career, and an above average offensive rebounder, averaging 3.3 offensive rebounds per game in his career. Beyond this, Olajuwon could "put the ball on the floor" and dribble with guard-like quickness. He is also one of only four players to have recorded a quadruple-double, illustrating his versatility.

• The Dream was a 12x All-Star, 2x Defensive Player of The Year, an Olympic Gold Medalist in 1996, and the NBA Playoff leader in career blocks with 472 and bpg at 3.3.

6.

• Nate Thurmond The NBA's 5th best rebounder of all time, "Nate the Great" Thurmond was one of the toughest players to ever lace up a pair of sneakers. It is said that Thurmond was feared by many opponents, but received praise from several other greats like Wilt Chamberlain, Bob Pettit, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

• Among his many accomplishments, Thurmond still holds the regular season record for rebounds in a quarter with 18. He averaged 21.3 and 22.0 rebounds per game in the 1966-67 and 1967-68 seasons — season averages exceeded by only Bill Russell and Chamberlain in NBA history. Thurmond was also an excellent passing center and was well known as the best screen setter in the league for many years. Proper screen setting is a fundamental concept that young players lack. He was also the first player to record a quadruple-double back in 1974.

7.

• Moses Malone Malone played 19 seasons in the NBA and 2 in the defunct ABA. Before retiring from basketball, he was the last ABA participant to still be playing in the NBA. In 2001, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

• Malone ranks 15th on the all time rebounds list, with 12.2 rpg, and is #5 in league history with 16,212 total boards. Moses was also a 12x All-Star, and was named as one of the 50 Greatest Players of All Time.

Tyson Just Being Tyson

I couldn't resist.

Cornering the Market

Al Davis may have made some interesting moves over the years, but the decision today to sign Pro Bowl DB Nnamdi Asomugha to the richest deal in league history for a corner back is brilliant. The Oakland Raiders reached agreement on a three year deal, valued at $45.3 million. Of that amount Asomugha is guaranteed $28.5 million, with additional provisions stating that if Oakland decides to retain him after three years, that all $45.3 million would be guaranteed.

Lets face it, teams just don't throw the ball this guys way. His numbers don't even reflect how good he is. Here is a stat that is relevant though. The Raiders ranked #1 in receiving yds per game allowed to the #1 receiver on the opposing team, at 45.6 yards per game.

I love this move by Oakland. The 27 year old Asomugha is approaching his prime, and opposing teams game plan for him week after week. Al Davis finally made a logical move and paid somebody accordingly!

On Wednesday, the team re-signed punter Shane Lechler. His deal was also the richest in history for a punter, four years at 16 million.

Both players are represented by Tom Condon.

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Home Sweet Home

The sweetest swing in baseball is on its way back to Seattle. The 38 year old Ken Griffey Jr. has decided to takes his 611 career home runs back to the city that saw him become one of the most prolific long ball hitters of all time.

Reports say its a 1 year deal worth a guaranteed $2 million, plus incentive money that could bring the total to upwards of $4.5 million.

I don't think anyone believes that Griffey is going to regain his previous Seattle form, but he can put butts in the seats. It's a safe bet that Ichiro is happy to see Jr. back. He's been carrying the burden of a bad team on his back for a few years know.

It's nice to see an iconic figure like Griffey get a chance to close out his career in the same place that it began.

Playoff Bound Bulls?

In a major trade(depends on perspective), the Sacramento Kings agreed to send G/F John Salmons and F/C Brad Miller to the Chicago Bulls for F Drew Gooden, F Andres Nocioni, F Cedric Simmons and F/C Michael Ruffin. In a related transaction, Ruffin was dealt to Portland for F Ike Diogu.

For the Kings, the deal saves them big money on the salary cap and puts them in a good spot financially. I don't see that the deal actually improves the Kings, unless we are looking at a toughness factor that you get from Nocioni. He plays with some grit, something the Kings lack.

The Bulls are the winners here. Brad Miller is returning to Chicago and brings some leadership immediately to the locker room. Miller may not score a high volume, but his veteran presence is sure to help a young Bulls front line. John Salmons is a versatile combo guard who is having a career best season through 53 games this year. His scoring(18.3) and minutes(37.4) will surely come down, but his ability to create will help young D Rose in the back court.

Chicago only trails the Bucks by 2.5 games in the East, which shouldn't be to hard to overcome if the team can establish cohesion and put a few win streaks together.

Dwyane Wade Sues

In a stranger bit of news, Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade sued his estranged wife and two of her lawyers for defamation of character Wednesday. She supposedly told people he contracted an STD during an alleged affair in 2007.

“Mr. Wade has been the victim of a reckless campaign by Siohvaughn Wade and her lawyers to publicly humiliate him and damage his reputation,” Joe Power, an attorney representing the Heat player, said in a statement to the AP. “To clear the public record from these false and malicious allegations, we have filed a defamation suit in court … and will seek appropriate compensation for damages.”

Siohvaughn Wade’s claim made “by and through her attorneys, and disseminated by various print and online media throughout the world placed plaintiff Dwyane Wade in a false light,” according to the lawsuit.

D-Wade has been in the tabloids alot since his breakup from his high school sweetheart. The couple have two children.

Despite all the distractions, kid is averaging 28.3 ppg with 7 dimes, and 5 rpg.

That's a great job of separating your personal life from your employment.

Juiced up

Alex Rodriguez addressed the media today following lasts wekks admission of steroid use. There were approximately 200 members of the media present while A-Fraud came clean about what performance enhancing drugs he actually used between 2001-2003.

With so many of today's stars hiding behind their publicist and agents, A-Fraud acutally gained some of my respect by just admitting he made a mistake. The fact that he constantly repeated that he was a young stupid player annoyed me, but hey, he did better than countless other superstar players who have been accused of similar behavior.

During the interview, several reporters posed the question, "Would you consider what you did to be cheating?" A-Rod struggled to admit that he cheated, but chose to emphasize that he made a mistake and that all he can do is move on. The fans of Major League Baseball should be the one's moving on! Americas game is in bad shape behind the steroid scandle.

Baseball can't afford any more black eyes, and this is a shiner that is bound to leave a nasty mark for decades to come.

A Young Man at Heart

Shaquille O'neal put on a show during the pre-game introductions for the NBA's All Star Game Sunday night. If the big man can dance like this we might still have another 3 or 4 years left before he hangs em up.

Wet & Ready

It's just not cool to talk sports without some eye candy. Wet eye candy is even better. Here ya go you horny freaks! Don't we all wish we were the lucky raindrops?!

Enjoy!

Pawn it if you Dare!

Lance Armstrong's time-trial bike was stolen from the Team Astana truck during the night before Stage 1 of the Tour of California. Armstrong rode the bike to a 10th-place finish Saturday in Sacramento during the Tour prologue.

Armstrong won't need his time-trial bike again until Friday in Solvang, where the race holds its second time trial. That segment is crucial to Astana's hopes of winning the overall team title.

A reward has been discussed, but the actual amount hasn't been disclosed. What the thieves may not have realized is that Armstrong's bike is one of a kind, a custom-made cycle easily recognized by cycling aficionados of the sport.

I can't wait to hear about the clown who gets busted for stealing his bike!

New look for AI

After years of cool designs and styles, Allen Iverson finally cut his hair!

J's

These J's are scheduled for release on April 4th.

Class Act

Kudos to the NBA for naming the Finals MVP Award after one of the games all time greats. Starting this year, the Finals MVP will receive the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award, commissioner David Stern announced Saturday. Although Russell never won a finals MVP award, this is still a very classy act by the NBA to honor a legend.

Russell was clearly moved when he accepted this new acknowledgment.

"This is one of my proudest moments in basketball, because I determined early in my career, the only important statistic in basketball is the final score. This is a bittersweet award," Russell said. "I just lost my special person. But I wanted to thank my teammates because we played a team game quite well. I accept this for my team, and my team included our coach, Red Auerbach, and all my teammates over the years. This is quite flattering."

"Who better to name this prestigious award for than one of the greatest players of all time and the ultimate champion," Commissioner Stern said.

Do they ever learn?

Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch is back in the news. Lynch, who played in the Pro Bowl one week ago, was arrested Wednesday in Culver City, Calif., on felony charges for possession of a concealed firearm.

The Culver City Police Department on Sunday afternoon released a brief statement with details of the arrest. The statement noted officers spotted three men in a 2006 Mercedes Benz and recognized Lynch as the Bills' running back.

"A subsequent field investigation led to the discovery of a loaded firearm," the report said. "The officers determined the gun belonged to Lynch and he was arrested for possession of a concealed firearm."

The Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's inmate database says Lynch was booked at 7:12 p.m. and was released on a $35,000 bond at 8:45 p.m.

Last summer the star running back was the subject of a hit-and-run investigation in Buffalo after his luxury SUV struck a woman in the street and sped away. He didn't face criminal charges because the woman's injuries weren't serious enough. She received seven stitches at a local hospital.

Truly Amazing

Watch as "Superman" Dwight Howard dunks on a goal that is at least 12 feet at the 2009 NBA All Star dunk competition. If he had saved this dunk for the end, he would have won the competition hands down!

Randy "The Ram" Robinson

The cast and crew of The Wrestler did a magnificent job. Big praise to Mickey Rourke. The movie was great.

If you haven't seen it, go check it out.

Check the clip below.

T-Mac

The Rockets franchise player Tracy McGrady is hurt AGAIN!

This time McGrady has an left ailing knee. McGrady had a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) test conducted yesterday at the Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute, as reported by the Houston Chronicle. The test revealed no change in his left knee from prior diagnosis. McGrady is expected to seek additional medical opinions in the coming days and will be re-evaluated when the team returns from the 2009 NBA All-Star Break.

This is one of the poorest offensive seasons for McGrady, who is putting up 15.6 points per game, while shooting a pedestrian 38% from the field.

NBA All Star Game 2009

It's that time again! Time for the best basketball players on the globe to put on a show during the NBA's All Star Weekend. This year's contest is being held in beautiful Phoenix, Arizona at the US Airways Center.

Here is your event checklist:

All times Eastern (ET)

Thursday, Feb. 14 7 p.m. ET NBA/WNBA All-Star Wheelchair Classic

Friday, Feb. 13 7pm ET: NBA Celebrity Game (ESPN)

9pm ET: Rookie Challenge Game (TNT)

9:15 p.m. ET: D-League Skills Competition (No TV)

Saturday, Feb. 14 4pm ET: D-League All-Star game (NBA TV)

8pm ET: NBA All-Star Saturday Night (TNT)------

Shooting Stars TNT------

Skills Challenge TNT------

Three-Point Shootout TNT------

Slam Dunk Contest TNT

**The newest addition to this years all star festivities will be game the popular backyard game of H-O-R-S-E!

Sunday, Feb. 15 8PM: 58th NBA All-Star Game TNT

Wise Investment!

How often do you hear about athletes who finish up their playing careers and years later find themselves broke because they didn't invest money wisely? Seems to be a pretty common thing.

Well, the San Antonio Spurs All Star PG Tony Parker plans to take a different approach to securing a prosperous future. On February 7th, Parker purchased the second-largest stake in ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne, the most storied basketball club is his native France. “I just wanted to do something to prepare my future,” Parker said. “I had a good opportunity with that team, and I took it.” Parker says he has not ruled out finishing his career with the French team once his NBA career is over.

Kudos to TP

Lawson, Lawson, Lawson!

Ty Lawson killed the Duke Blue Devils in the second half of Wednesday nights game which matched the #3 ranked tarheeels vs #5 ranked dukies. The explosiveness of Lawson leads me to believe he is the fastest guard with the basketball in his hands since AI(yeah, for real) at Georgetown. Play after play, regardless if Duke made a shot or not, Lawson pushed the ball down the Blue Devils throats. Mr. Lawson had layup, after layup ending up with a 25 points, 21 of which occurred in the second half and 5 dimes.

Thanks A-Rod

"Maybe the people forgot about me and how we have choked the last several years!"

Another Classic?

TONIGHT!!!

The Duke Blue Devils, who slipped in the polls this week to #5, have a difficult task ahead against the countries #3 team, the 21-2, UNC tar heels.

Carolina has looked unbeatable at times this season. Coach Williams has his team playing about as well as anyone in the country right know. They have weapons at every position, guys who can score, defend, and rebound. It's UNC!!! STUDS R US! If Duke can't stop dribble penetration and keep the tar heels off the boards this game won't be much fun to watch for the Cameron Crazies.

For Duke, causing turnovers against the Carolina back court and being disruptive defensively are keys to victory. If the 3 pointer's are falling and the D is stingy, watch out UNC. If Coach K's boys can do those things well Duke will have a much better chance of securing their 21'st win of the season.

Check the box score at the end of the game for rebounds. The team who wins the battle on the boards is gonna win this game.

Should be another classic! Well, maybe just a close game.

Lil Wayne vs Michael Smith

Lil Wayne is really everywhere these days. He had another ESPN appearance, this time on the popular Around the Horn. Despite all the "haters" out there, Wayne continues to shine, garnering more and more attention along the way. He was actually funny in his analysis, but the rap game is obviously where he belongs.

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